ckly up at DELIA and down again in pretty
affectation, but she is really laughing at herself all the time) he
writes statistical articles for the Reviews--percentages and all those
things. He's just the sort of man, if he knew that I was your mother,
to work it out that I was more than thirty. The other one, Mr.
Devenish--Claude--(she looks up and down as before) he's rather, rather
poetical. He thinks I came straight from heaven--last week.

DELIA (jumping up). I think _I'd_ better go straight back to Paris.

BELINDA (jumping up and catching her firmly by the arms). You will do
nothing of the sort. You will take off that hat--(she lets go of the
arm and begins to take out the pin) which is a perfect duck, and I don't
know why I didn't say so before--(she puts the hat down on the table)
and let me take a good look at you (she does so), and kiss you (she does
so), and then we'll go to your room and unpack and have a lovely talk
about clothes. And then we'll have tea.

[BETTY comes in.]

BELINDA. And now here's Betty coming in to upset all our delightful
plans, just when we've made them.

DELIA. How are you, Betty? I've left school.

BETTY. Very nicely, thank you, miss. You've grown.

BELINDA (patting the top of DELIA'S head). I'm much taller than she
is.... Well, Betty, what is it?

BETTY. The two gentlemen, Mr. Baxter and Mr. Devenish, have both called
together, ma'am.

BELINDA (excited). Oh! How--how very simultaneous of them!

DELIA (eagerly). Oh, do let me see them!

BELINDA. Darling, you'll see plenty of them before you've finished. (To
BETTY) What have you done with them?

BETTY. They're waiting in the hall, ma'am, while I said I would see if
you were at home.

BELINDA. All right, Betty. Give me two minutes and then show them out
here.

BETTY. Yes, ma'am. [Exit.]

BELINDA. They can't do much harm to each other in two minutes.

DELIA (taking her hat). Well, I'll go and unpack. You really won't mind
my coming down afterwards?

BELINDA. Of course not. (A little awkwardly) Darling one, I wonder if
you'd mind--just at first--being introduced as my niece. You see, I
expect they're in a bad temper already, having come here together, and
we don't want to spoil their day entirely.

DELIA (smiling). I'll be your mother if you like.

BELINDA. Oh no, that wouldn't do, because then Mr. Baxter would feel
that he ought to ask your permission before paying his attentions to me.
He's just that sort of man.